////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Copyright 2010 Michael Schmalle - Teoti Graphix, LLC
// 
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
// 
// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 
// 
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software 
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, 
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and 
// limitations under the License
// 
// Author: Michael Schmalle, Principal Architect
// mschmalle at teotigraphix dot com
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

package org.teotigraphix.swizplugin.api
{

/**
 * The <strong>IElementFactory</strong> allows elements to be intantiated
 * with an <code>IMemento</code> to recreate the element's internal state.
 * 
 * @author Michael Schmalle
 * @copyright Teoti Graphix, LLC
 * @productversion 1.0
 */
public interface IElementFactory
{
	//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	//
	//  Methods
	//
	//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
	
	/**
	 * Creates and returns an <code>IAdaptable</code> instance using an 
	 * <code>IMemento</code> to recreate the element's internal state.
	 * 
	 * @param memento An <code>IMemento</code> to recreate the element's state.
	 * @return An <code>IAdaptable</code> instance or <code>null</code>.
	 */
	function createElement(memento:IMemento):IAdaptable;
}
}